The Free Medial Sural Artery Perforator Flap (MSAPF): An Indispensable Tool for Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Background: Modern head and neck surgery is characterized by its emphasis on three important objectives of reconstructive and rehabilitative procedures-cosmesis, function and coverage of vital structures. Reconstruction with free flaps is a necessity when the defects become too large for more simple reconstruction options such as skin grafting and local flaps. The medial sural artery perforator flap (MSAPF) is a thin flap with a long pedicle. It has tremendous potential for applications in small-to-moderate soft tissue defects. Furthermore, chimeric MSAPF includes a skin paddle and a separated piece of medial gastrocnemius muscle, allows more freedom for flap insetting especially in 3-D reconstruction. Purpose: The aim was to study the assessment of feasibility of MSAPF for head and neck reconstruction. Method: Prospective case study from January 2019 to December 2019 was carried out in oral cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, buccal mucosa and floor of the mouth which was reconstructed using MSAPF after oncologic resection. Results: We reconstructed 20 patients using MSAPF. It was designed according to the size and site of the defect. Donor site was primarily closed in all cases. Great results were obtained. Out of 20 MSAP, 19 flaps survived. Flap failed in one case due to venous thrombosis. The thickness of the flap ranged from 4-9 mm, pedicle length ranged from 8-13mm, number of perforators ranged from 1-2, arterial diameter ranged from 1.5-2 mm and venous diameter ranged from 1-3mm. Conclusion: MSAPF is a good alternative for head and neck reconstruction with the advantages of thin and pliable skin, a long and reliable vascular pedicle, straightforward intramuscular dissection, the possibility of chimeric flap design and minimal donor site morbidity.

Conference report on the Indo Global Summit on Head and Neck Oncology (IGSHNO 2017-BMCON-IV), 24-26 February 2017, Jaipur, India.

'The multidisciplinary approach: expanding treatment horizons for head and neck cancer' was the major theme of the Indo Global Summit on Head and Neck Oncology (IGSHNO 2017-BMCON-IV). The meeting, held in Jaipur (Rajasthan, India) from 24 to 26 February 2017, assembled 600 participants from India and worldwide. It was organised by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (BMCHRC), Jaipur. BMCHRC Jaipur is one of the largest superspeciality oncology research and treatment centres in north India. The vision of BMCHRC has been to foster collaboration between oncologists, encouraging dialogue in an open forum that improves the care and outcomes of patients with cancer using the latest advances in cancer treatment. IGSHNO 2017 was part of this aim and vision. The organising team, including Dr Anil Gupta (Organising Secretary), Dr Lalit Mohan Sharma (Organising Secretary), Dr Pawan Singhal (Chairperson, scientific programme), Dr Tej Prakash Soni (Treasurer, Organising Secretary, Radiotherapy workshop), Dr Umesh Bansal and Dr Dinesh Yadav (Joint Organising Secretary), Dr Anjum Khan (Organising Secretary, Palliative care workshop), Dr Gaurav Pal Singh (Organising Secretary, Dental and prosthodontics workshop) and Dr (Maj Gen) SC Pareek (Medical Director, BMCHRC, Jaipur, India) worked hard for the previous 6 months to make this conference a successful academic event. IGSHNO 2017, held over three days, is a chance for oncologists from different parts of India to come together and discuss ongoing research, recent announcements and introduce new developments in head and neck cancer. It consisted of 51 lectures, seven debates, 10 panel discussions, oral paper presentations, e-poster sessions, a quiz for postgraduate students, a live surgery workshop, a prosthodentics workshop for dentists, a radiotherapy contouring workshop for radiation oncologists, a pain and palliative care workshop and a meet the expert session-all focusing on the multidisciplinary treatment of head and neck cancer. Special highlights from IGSHNO 2017 included the radiotherapy contouring workshop, the live surgery workshop by internationally renowned head and neck oncosurgeons, the dental and prosthodontics workshop and the pain and palliative care workshop.

Primary cutaneous mucormycosis in a patient with burn wounds due to Lichtheimia ramosa.

Mucormycosis is usually an invasive mycotic disease caused by fungi in the class mucormycetes. Here we report a case of cutaneous mucormycosis due to Lichtheimia ramosa in a 20-year-old female patient with burn injuries. She was admitted to the hospital with accidental flame burns covering 60 % total burn surface area. After 15 days of admission to hospital, the burn wound showed features of fungal infection. Culture showed white cottony growth belonging to the Mucorales order. Morphological identification confirmed it as L. ramosa. She was managed surgically and medically with the help of amphotericin B. Patient survived due to prompt diagnosis and appropriate medical and surgical treatment. Early diagnosis is critical in prevention of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Fungal infection in burn wounds can be difficult to diagnose and manage.

Abdominal wall metastasis in scar after open resection of an adrenocortical carcinoma.

A 42-year-old man patient presented with progressively increasing, occasionally painful lump in the left upper and central abdomen. Investigations revealed well-defined capsulated left adrenocortical carcinoma. Tumor was resected successfully along with left kidney. Tumor recurred in the abdominal surgical scar 1.5 years after surgery. We are reporting this case because of rarity of metastatic recurrence of an adrenocortical carcinoma in the abdominal surgical scar 1.5 years after resection of primary tumor.